Politics & Government
Marin County Officials: Get Your Shots For School Early
County Health Department hopes students will be ready for the first day of school
August 04, 2021
Get Your Shots for School Early
County Health Department hopes students will be ready for the first day of school
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San Rafael, CA – With the Delta variant surging in Marin County, Marin County Public Health officials strongly recommend parents of children and adolescents eligible for COVID-19 vaccination to get fully vaccinated before the start of school. They are also reminding parents to make sure their children’s vaccines[External PDF] are current before the first day of school or child care.
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The COVID-19 vaccination is a safe and effective tool that slows the spread of disease, decreases hospitalizations, and prevents deaths. Vaccinating eligible children and adolescents also reduces community transmission.
“Last year we saw many families delay regularly scheduled childhood vaccinations,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, the County’s Deputy Public Health Officer. “That increases the risk of the return of vaccine-preventable disease like measles.”
Last year, Marin’s kindergarten vaccination rate remained high at 96.3%. With hectic summer schedules, it is advisable to make appointments before clinics fill up.
“Each fall, we encounter families who have difficulty getting the required vaccinations in time for the start of school,” said Audrey Crivello, the County’s Immunization Coordinator. “For this reason, we urge parents to make vaccinations part of their back-to-school checklist.”
Santora also strongly recommended annual vaccination for the flu, which is not part of the required package. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age or older.
“Influenza is a serious disease and causes a lot of school and work absenteeism,” she said. “We are happy more children are protected from preventable diseases.”
This press release was produced by the Marin County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.